Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-01-Speech-1-056"
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"en.20030901.5.1-056"2
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"Mr President, I would firstly like to express my gratitude for the fact that this debate has been scheduled in order to analyse the problems relating to the heat wave we have suffered this summer. This heat wave has furthermore led to a series of disasters, some of which are now recurrent, such as forest fires.
I would ask that we separate, on the one hand, the effects of this year’s heat wave from, on the other, a problem which is endemic in the south of Europe, in the Mediterranean countries: the problem of forest fires.
These forest fires may have become more frequent as a result of climate change, but also as a result of change in the circumstances of the forests and the rural environment. The depopulation of rural areas is a reality. The non-use of wood produced in the Mediterranean forest, which is no longer economically viable, is a reality. Therefore, the forest ceases to have an economic function and takes on an environmental role, which is also very important.
But the circumstances are different: depopulation takes away farmers, who – let us not forget – are the main protectors of the forest and of nature. The farmer is the first person to confront a forest fire.
Since we are talking about an endemic affliction it is important to adopt emergency measures: they would serve as antibiotics. But what we really need for this type of affliction is ‘vaccines’. In this case, the vaccines would take the form of preventative measures and any resources which can act quickly in the event of forest fires.
Commissioner, this year we have seen the devastating effects of forest fires. You have spoken of updating the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Funds, in part, in order to deal with these effects. I would ask you also to think of the Community Initiative for Rural Development (Leader), and how this initiative – which is applied in certain regions in particular – could also be applied to areas which have been devastated by forest fires.
I also believe that the measures adopted in this regard within the framework of the common agricultural policy have been positive, in relation to the areas which have had the greatest drought problems. I would also like to acknowledge the work of the fire-fighters, forest guards and volunteers, who have contributed to tackling the problem of forest fires.
Just as we ask that in any project there be an environmental impact study, this environmental impact should be extended to the possible impact of forest fires which – I repeat – are an endemic evil in the countries of the south of Europe, the Mediterranean countries."@en1
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